UFC 290 Predictions: Odds, Picks & Analysis
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- Bo Nickal to win by submission in Round 1 (-190) with DraftKings Sportsbook
- Jalin Turner by KO/TKO (+195) with BetMGM Sportsbook
- Robert Whittaker by points (+195) with Unibet Sportsbook
- Brandon Moreno to win by points (+190) with Caesars Sportsbook
- Alexander Volkanovski by points (+125) with FanDuel Sportsbook
International Fight Week is here and the UFC has treated us with a stellar card that sees two title fights over in Las Vegas.
The best featherweight of all time is back in action, as Alexander Volkanovski takes on Yair Rodriguez after a flyweight title bout between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja.
To get you ready for your UFC betting, here are our picks for UFC 290.
Bo Nickal vs. Valentine Woodburn UFC 290 Odds
The main card at UFC 290 kicks off with the heaviest favorite in UFC history taking center stage.
Bo Nickal is -3500 to win the fight at FanDuel Sportsbook, and no fighter has ever been priced as low to beat Valentine Woodburn. Needless to say, we expect another win for one of the most decorated college wrestlers in history. Val Woodburn is +1060 to win the fight at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Nickal came into the UFC with a pedigree in wrestling and about as much expectation on his shoulders as we’ve ever seen. The American beat Jamie Pickett with an arm-triangle choke in the first round on his debut and he likely takes Woodburn down in this fight and does something very similar.
Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker UFC 290 Predictions
After struggling in the early days of his MMA career, Jalin Turner put together a five-fight winning streak that saw him take three fights via submission and two via TKO.
Turner is a -290 favorite to win this fight at FanDuel Sportsbook. He lost to Mateusz Gamrot in his last fight, but against Dan Hooker, he is rightfully the clear favorite to get back in the win column. Hooker is +215 to win at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Hooker has won just two of his last six fights, beating only Nasrat Haqparast on points and Claudio Puelles with a fantastic body kick TKO. Up against an elite and unpredictable striker like Turner, we expect Hooker to struggle throughout and take quite a beating.
Turner’s kicks and movement are too good, and at a height of 6-feet-3, this could end up being an easy night at the office for him.
Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis UFC 290 Picks
The former middleweight king is back in action as Robert Whittaker bids for another title shot against Israel Adesanya when he takes on Dricus du Plessis. Whittaker is -400 at BetMGM Sportsbook to win this fight.
Besides his losses to Adesanya, Whittaker has been faultless in his career at 185 pounds, beating Marvin Vettori, Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, Kelvin Gaselum, Yoel Romero (twice), Derek Brunson and Ronaldo Souza.
Whittaker combines his breathtaking movement and karate striking with his exceptional wrestling, and it has caused everybody problems. The unpredictable way in which he fights allowed him to take apart Vettori’s wrestling ability throughout his recent fight, and many argue he even won his last bout with Adesanya.
Du Plessis, however, has been exceptional, beating Brunson, Till, Tevin Giles and Markus Perez inside the distance in his UFC career, while also defeating Brad Tavares on points.
Du Plessis, who is +300 at BetMGM Sportsbook to win, has knockout power and submission skill set that will no doubt keep the 29-year-old in the top five of the middleweight rankings over time. However, Whittaker is too skilled, too experienced and too savvy with his ability and he will win here.
Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja UFC 290 Predictions
For the third time, Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja will meet in the octagon, with the latter winning the first two fights.
However, when it has mattered most, Moreno has come out on top in his career and is once again the flyweight king after beating Deiveson Figueiredo because of a doctor stoppage at the end of round three of their fourth fight back in January. Moreno is -205 at Unibet Sportsbook to win this fight.
It's been over five years since Pantoja last defeated Moreno in the UFC. He beat Moreno via submission on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016. Since then, however, Moreno has gone on to establish himself as one of the best ever to do it at flyweight and as one of the most well-rounded fighters on the roster. Pantoja is +170 to win the fight at Unibet Sportsbook .
The champion has boxing skills like no other in the UFC right now. His reflexes are second to none in MMA, and his powerful and accurate jab allows him to rack up the rounds and set up takedowns to work on his fantastic submission skills.
Pantoja deserves credit, but in the years since he last beat Moreno, the latter has gone on to get better and better and reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez UFC 290 Odds
The greatest featherweight of all time steps out once again to headline UFC 290 against Yair Rodriguez.
For the first time in 22 fights, Alexander Volkanovski heads into a fight, having lost his previous one following his decision defeat to Islam Makhachev in a title fight at lightweight. Many argue he won that bout, but regardless, he remains untouchable at 145 pounds. He’s a big -400 favorite to win here at FanDuel Sportsbook.
As far as fight IQ goes, there are not many better. Combine this with his exceptional striking and grappling ability, and Volkanovski is no doubt the best to ever do it at featherweight after beating Max Holloway three times and legends like Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
Against Rodrgieuz, however, he must be at his absolute best. The Mexican is a sensational striker and about as unpredictable and technical as it gets in that regard.
Rodriguez will no doubt have his moments and land some clean shots on the champion. However, as time goes on, Volkanovski will begin to work out his movement and mix in takedowns and evade the hits of the challenger to rack up the rounds. Rodriguez is +285 to win the fight at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Volkanovski has also seen 10 of his 25 wins end on points, beating only Jung Chan-sung before the final bell in his past six fights, so we think the judges will be needed again in this chess match.
Other UFC 290 Odds to Consider
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